Recent Posts

What if I told you that you have to eat to lose fat? This may sound contradictory, but it’s true. The human body is an extremely efficient organism. If you are not getting enough energy from food to meet your minimum energy needs, your body will begin burning muscle, instead of fat, for energy. When you break down muscle, you effectively decrease your metabolism. This is the plight of the so-called yo-yo dieter. A person who loses weight on an overly calorie-restricted diet loses muscle and decreases their metabolism. They often regain the weight and once again struggle to shed those pounds. Sound familiar?
It’s important to remember that the number you see on the scale represents more than just fat. That number is the combined weight of your fat, muscles, organs, bones, and fluids. The goal of weight loss is to maintain or increase muscle, while decreasing fat. Therefore, [...]

Summer is here and it’s getting hot outside! What better way to keep cool then to drink a glass of ice-cold water? Our body’s natural way of cooling off is by sweating. According to the CDC, in areas of high humidity, sweat may not evaporate as quickly which keeps our body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to. If the body is unable to regulate its core temperature, it can lead to heat related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. Hydration, therefore, is especially important during the summer months and in areas with high humidity, like Georgia. Adequate hydration keeps the body functioning properly and prevents these heat-related illnesses. So whether you are working, exercising, or enjoying the weather outside, remember to drink plenty of fluids throughout your day!

Here are some tips on staying hydrated:

Real southern food does not always come from a deep fryer; it’s simmered on the stove, baked in a cast iron skillet, and pulled straight from your grandmother’s garden. The real food plate is a nutritious eating approach that shifts the focus from an entrée to the four corners of the real plate; fruits, grains, legume, and vegetables. These foods are packed with nutrients and are all staples in southern cuisine. This is what our southern real food plate would look like:

Collard Greens:

In the vegetable corner, collard greens are the green, nonstarchy star of this southern plate. Packing in 5 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber in each 1 cup serving of cooked greens; this nutrition powerhouse also has 26% of your Daily Value (DV) of Calcium and 57% of your DV of Vitamin C. Check out our recipe below.

Black Eyed Peas:

March is National Nutrition Month® and the theme this year is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right.” Flavor is a big part of why we choose to eat the foods that we do. We want the food that we eat to be flavorful, but at the same time it’s important that the food we eat is healthy.
Foods are often flavored with salt, sugar or fat. The 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advises us to consume less added sugars, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium (commonly referred to as salt). It’s important to remember that we don’t need to limit natural sugar, which is found in fresh fruit and dairy products, but we should limit sugar that is added to products.
Salt, sugar and fat don’t have to be avoided completely, but it’s best to eat them in moderation or choose healthier alternatives. So how can we reduce the amount of salt, sugar and fat in the foods we are [...]

Have you ever left the grocery store with more food than you intended to buy? Has that extra food ended up being chips, cookies, or sugar-sweetened sodas? It’s easy to feel tempted by the products the store has on display. Keep in mind that the main goal of many stores is to advertise cheap and appealing products rather than healthy and nutritious ones. In order to help you maintain your healthy eating goals, follow these tips for grocery shopping success.
Before beginning your trip, make a list of items to buy. This will prevent purchasing unnecessary food. It may also help to eat a meal or snack at home before heading to the store. Shopping on an empty stomach makes it more tempting to purchase unhealthy junk food. If you do end up at the store while you are hungry, head straight for the produce section. Choosing your fruits and vegetables first will help keep your mind on [...]

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Tuesday, January 19th, for our live online chat titled “New Year, New You: Successful & Lasting Weight Loss”, hosted by Emory Bariatrics registered dieticians, Victoria Delgado, RD, and Kasey LaPointe, RD.
During this live chat, Victoria and Kasey provided healthful living tips to lasting weight loss for those who have made weight loss a part of their New Year’s resolution. They also answered questions about surgical and non-surgical weight loss.
We were thrilled with the number of people who registered and were able to participate in the chat. The response was so great that we had a few questions we were not able to answer so we have answered them below for your reference.
Question: Does wrapping your body with Saran wrap while you work out help shed inches/pounds? If so, how does it work?Answer: No, this is a myth. It may [...]

Previously we introduced the topic of mindful eating. For many, this is a new concept; for others, this may be a part of your daily routine. Wherever you are on the spectrum, I would like to continue to delve further into the concept of mindful eating by discussing food’s true purpose – to nourish our body – in the hope it will illicit a better understanding of why we may eat vs. why we should eat, and how to battle some old habits.
We eat for many reasons. Some of those reasons include:

when we are with others (celebrating/mourning, gathering with friends)

when there is a medical need (taking medication, treating a low blood sugar)

when we are by ourselves (comforting or punishing ourselves; boredom)

out of habit (watching TV/movies, because it is your normal time to eat)

...and the list can continue. We may eat before a party so that we don’t eat at the [...]

Is weight loss part of your New Year’s resolution? Let Emory Bariatrics help you make 2016 the year you commit to getting healthy through weight loss.
Please join us for a live chat on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. EST with Emory Healthcare registered dietitians, Victoria Delgado, RD, and Kasey LaPointe, RD. They will discuss healthful living tips to get you on the path to lasting weight loss and answer your questions about surgical and non-surgical weight loss. Weight loss can be a big challenge, both physically and mentally, but with hard work, a strong support system and a positive outlook, you can achieve better health in 2016. Register here for this chat!

Winter months are a time when food becomes the center of attention: Christmas, Chanukah, and New Years. Food weighs heavy on everyone’s mind, and unfortunately many times it ends up weighing heavy on our stomachs. We want to serve the dish that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. Unfortunately, these seasonal dishes tend to be high in sugar, fat, and salt if we aren’t mindful while we cook. But did you know that with the right resources, we can “revive” our recipes from the “nutrition grave”? Swapping some of the les
s healthy ingredients for more nutritious options can cut back on calories, fat, sodium, and sugar, all while maintaining that same tasty flavor.
Many of our favorite holiday dishes are “empty calories,” meaning they are high in calories and low in nutrients. However, there are simple food substitutes that can bring our favorite dishes back from [...]

Eating mindfully is not something we learn as a child. As a matter of fact, we are often taught the exact opposite. As children, how many of you were told by your parents “Clean your plate!”? This idea can actually lead to a lifetime of overeating, as many of us feel guilty leaving food on our plate, especially when there are “starving children” in the world. But the concept of mindful eating can lead to healthy habits and lead to less waste.
So what is mindful eating? Simply put, it is eating with awareness. Your focus is on your food, your body, and your body’s response to the food you eat. We put forth time and effort when we review bills and bank statements or when we plan a meeting, but when it comes to eating, we do so absent-mindedly. Even when we are in the act of eating, our minds drift or we are in the midst of conversations with others, that we don’t focus [...]

This Web site is provided as a courtesy to those interested in Emory Healthcare and does not constitute medical advice and does not create any physician/patient relationship. Also, Emory Healthcare does not endorse or recommend any specific commercial product or service. This Web site is provided solely for personal and private use of individuals accessing this information, and no part of it may be used for any other purpose.